FINANCE

Edinburgh Council told to 'accelerate' transformation

Senior officers and councillors at Edinburgh City Council must ‘accelerate its transformation and change programme’ to save £100m by 2029, auditors say.

© Irina Crick/Shutterstock

© Irina Crick/Shutterstock

Senior officers and councillors at Edinburgh City Council must ‘accelerate its transformation and change programme' to save £100m by 2029, auditors say.

The Accounts Commission found that the council had made progress and many of its services were performing well.

However, it warned the council had to address declining performance in areas such as housing, waste and some aspects of street cleaning.

The commission also said the council had ‘ambitious plans' to borrow money to improve housing and school buildings, but cautioned these would have to be ‘managed carefully'.

Jo Armstrong, chair of the Accounts Commission, said: ‘The council has successfully achieved savings over recent years. But given increasing demand and financial pressures, the council must accelerate its transformation and change programme. Listening to and acting on the views of staff and local communities will be vital.

‘The council has real opportunities, including the potential to raise more income. It shouldn't use the potential of future income, however, to delay making difficult decisions now as challenges will only intensify.'

Council leader Cammy Day said the council had delivered a lot of change at a time of 'huge pressure' on services, but acknowledged there was still much more to be done.

A spokesperson for the council also said that the local authority was querying the way the commission has interpreted the data on which it has based its opinion about the performance of some of the council's services.

FINANCE

The outlook for Reform

By Paul Marinko | 17 April 2025

Paul Marinko finds that many share the view that Reform are going to do well in next month’s local elections. But what is likely to happen once they gain sea...

FINANCE

Council accuses CQC of 'poor inspection process'

By Martin Ford | 17 April 2025

A council has hit out at a watchdog over its ‘poor inspection process’ after receiving a judgement of ‘requires improvement’ for its adult social care servic...

FINANCE

Surrey urged to include single unitary proposal

By Paul Marinko and Heather Jameson | 17 April 2025

The Government has urged Surrey to provide costings for a single unitary authority in its final reorganisation plans despite its councils having rejected thi...

FINANCE

LGA: 1,700 children referred to social services daily

By Paul Marinko | 17 April 2025

The Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed around 1,700 children are referred to social services every day, as it steps up demands for adequate fund...

Popular articles by William Eichler